A unique ranking of the third-party logistics companies in North America includes listings of the largest freight brokerage firms, freight forwarders, warehouse operators and dedicated contract carriage service providers.

Under terms of a deal announced March 6, the owner of Albertson’s — an investor group led by Cerberus Capital Management — will pay $32.50 a share to Safeway shareholders, plus new shares in Blackhawk Network, a gift card business that Safeway is spinning off to shareholders.

Safeway shareholders also will receive proceeds from the planned sale of the company’s 49% stake in Mexican retailer Casa Ley S.A. de C.V.

Safeway also operates GroceryWorks.com, an on online grocery business.

Company officials said the merger will allow the firms to share best practices and realize cost savings, including a “more efficient distribution and supply chain.”

Safeway had earlier sold some of its stores in Chicago to Albertson’s. In November, the company sold its Canadian retail and manufacturing operations to Sobeys Inc.